Chu Feng soared into the great tribulation like a god descending from the heavens.
The tribulation blotted out the sky, stretching endlessly in every direction. Even though Chu Feng's body towered ten thousand meters tall, compared to the tribulation itself, he still looked pitifully small.
But amid the sea of purple lightning that filled the sky, golden light flashed continuously — slicing through everything it touched. Wherever that golden light passed, the purple lightning was cleaved apart, and the dark clouds retreated in its wake.
The sight was like a fierce tiger charging into a pack of wolves.
The wolves had the numbers, but against the tiger, they stood no chance.
The terrifying tribulation was being destroyed at an astonishing speed by Chu Feng.
Rooooar—!
But suddenly, from within the tribulation, a surge of black flame erupted. It moved with blinding speed, hurtling straight toward Chu Feng.
Before the black flame even drew close, Chu Feng launched his attack.
A single sword slash sent a massive golden blade of light tearing through the void, heading straight for the black flame. This golden blade of light was far more powerful than anything Chu Feng had unleashed before — the strongest offensive strike he could produce after harnessing the power of the Divine Formation.
The reason he went all out was that the moment the black flame appeared, Chu Feng had sensed the danger it carried.
The tribulation itself was simply overwhelming in force.
But this black flame emanated an aura of extreme evil.
It was more like a demonic entity.
Unfortunately for Chu Feng, the black flame was even more formidable than he had imagined. Despite the speed and ferocity of his attack, the black flame dodged it with ease.
"Heh heh heh—"
Not only that, but a bizarre, cackling laughter echoed directly into Chu Feng's ears.
Only he could hear that sound, but Chu Feng knew it came from the black flame — it was mocking him.
"Damn it."
Sensing the situation turning dire, Chu Feng began retreating while continuing to swing his massive golden sword, launching one attack after another at the black flame.
But no matter how he tried, the black flame evaded every strike and swiftly closed the distance.
Chu Feng's power had already far surpassed what ordinary people could comprehend. The onlookers could only feel the overwhelming aura of his might — they couldn't make out the specifics of the battle. All they knew was that Chu Feng's presence was terrifyingly imposing, and while the tribulation was vast and magnificent, it no longer seemed to pose a threat.
Until… the golden sword energy finally stopped raging through the sky, and the spectators could catch sight of Chu Feng once more.
But in that very moment, the excitement that had been blazing in their eyes gave way to alarm.
Chu Feng stood in the heart of the tribulation, still towering ten thousand meters high, radiant with golden light. But wrapped around his body was a coil of black flame.
The black flame had taken the form of a colossal serpent, wrapping itself tightly around Chu Feng's form — and it was tightening its grip by the second.
Pain was etched clearly across Chu Feng's face.
"What is that?"
"Is it the tribulation's power?"
At the sight of this, panic spread like wildfire across the faces of every elder and disciple.
Chu Feng was already this powerful, yet the black flame had subjugated him. What kind of monster could possibly do that?!
"Focus your minds! Drive the Wolong Divine Formation with everything you have!!!"
While terror gripped the crowd, the Sect Master's thunderous voice rang out.
And with that command, the elders and disciples had no choice but to comply.
Leading from the front, the Sect Master rallied everyone to activate the formation once more — and this time, the power they channeled was far greater.
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
With earth-shaking rumbling from the ground around them, pillar after pillar of golden flame shot skyward from the earth, like golden dragons surging forth to fight alongside Chu Feng. They merged into his body one after another.
Chu Feng's power began to surge once more.
Rooooar—!
The terrifying black flame let out a series of pained howls. Before long, its form fractured — and then dissipated entirely from everyone's view.
"Chu Feng, that's the way!"
"Keep breaking through the tribulation! The Sect Master and all of us have your back!"
Seeing the black flame vanish, thunderous cheers erupted from below the Wolong Martial Sect.
But inside Chu Feng's mind, doubt was already stirring.
Though his power had indeed grown stronger as the Wolong Divine Formation was reinforced, he could sense that he still wasn't on equal footing with that eerie black flame.
Which meant its disappearance had nothing to do with him.
It was another force.
There existed a separate power within this tribulation — one that was overwhelmingly domineering, completely distinct in nature from the black flame. It was that tyrannical force that had obliterated the black flame.
But of this, only Chu Feng knew the truth. Everyone else remained in the dark, believing wholeheartedly that it was Chu Feng himself who had destroyed the black flame.
As the crowd roared with jubilation, cheering Chu Feng's name…